‘Elysium’ Aims For $35 Million On Busy Box Office Weekend

This is a busy weekend at the box office, but Matt Damon’s Elysium is aiming high on it’s opening weekend. Observers say it could make $35 million.

Summer blockbuster season continues with several highly anticipated films premiering on Wednesday and Friday.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters opens Wednesday and it is appealing to teens says early analysis, while the R-rated comedy with Jennifer Aniston, We’re The Millers is a favorite among women.

Neil Blomkamp’s Elysium starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster needs to do well for Sony, who has come under attack from investor and hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb because of recent flops and the Disney animated film Planes open on Friday.

As you can see there is something for everyone this weekend. Jennifer Aniston is a favorite with females, but New Line hopes to grab males’ attention away from the sci-fi flick Elysium, with her much publicized stripping scenes.

Each film seems to be getting attention from a specific group and whoever comes up on top will depend on who can attract other audience members to the movie theater.

Sony is expecting Elysium to go over $35 million, but some analysts don’t see it making more than $30 million for the weekend.

Director Neill Blomkamp had a huge hit in 2009 with District 9, which opened with $37.4 million, but it only cost $30 million to make. Sony paid $115 million for the rights to Elysium.

Warner Bros. believes Millers, which stars Aniston, Emma Roberts, Jason Sudeikis, and Will Poulter as a fake family who smuggles marijuana out of Mexico, has a shot at making $40 million on its debut, despite some mixed reviews.

Percy Jackson is expecting to make between $20 million and $25 million, which is less than the $31.2 million the original, Percy Jackson And The Olympians: The Lightning Thief made in 2010 with far less competition.

Will Elysium get to $35 million this weekend?